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AL. WATTS 



O V 



DOGS 




THEIR HABITS, CHARACTERISTICS, AND DISEASES. 



B O S T O N , M A S S. : 
AL. WATTS, 164 LINCOLN STREET. 

1876. 

Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1876, by Al. Waits, in the Office of the Librarian of 

Congress, at Washington. 



AL. WATTS 



w 



O N 



DOG 




THEIR HABITS, CHARACTERISTICS, AND DISEASES. 







BOSTON, MASS.: 
AL. WATTS, 164 LINCOLN STREET. 

1876. 

'Tr 



INTRODUCTORY CE AFTER. 



Origin. — General Characteristics. — Habitat. — Vai'ieties. — F. Cuvier's 
Divisional Arrangement. — Arrangement adopted by the Author. 

From the earliest times we have reason to believe that the dog has 
been the faithful companion and assistant of man in all parts of the 
world, and his fidelity and attachment are so remarkable as to have 
become proverbial. Before the introduction of agriculture, it was 
by means of the hunting powers of this animal that man was enabled 
to support himself by pursuing the wild denizens of the forest ; for 
though now, with the aid of gunpowder, he can in great measure dis- 
pense with the services of his assistant, yet, until the invention of that 
destructive agent, he was, in default of the dog, reduced to the bow and 
arrow, the snare or the pitfall. The dog was also of incalculable ser- 
vice in guarding the flocks and herds from the depredations of the 
Garnivora, and even man himself was often glad to have recourse to 
his courage and strength in resisting the lion, the tiger, or the wolf. 

Much has been written on the origin of the dog, and Pennant, BufFon, 
and other naturalists have exhausted their powers of research and in- 
vention in attempting to discover the parent stock from which all are 
descended. The subject, however, is wrapped in so mufth obscurity as 
to baffle all their efforts, and it is still a disputed point whether the 
shepherd's dog, as supposed by Buffon and Daniel, or the wolf, as con- 
jectured by Bell, is the progenitor of the 'various breeds now existing. 
Anyhow, it is a most unprofitable speculation, and, being unsupported 
by proof of any kind, it can never be settled upon any reliable basis. 
We shall not, therefore, waste any space in entering upon this discus- 
sion, but leave our readers to investigate the inquiry, if they think fit, 
in the pages of Buffon, Linnaeus, Pennant, and Cuvier, and our most 
recent investigator, Professor Bell. It may, however, be observed that 
the old hypothesis of Pennant that the dog is only a domesticated jackal, 
crossed with the wolf or fox, though resuscitated by Mr. Bell, is now 
almost entirely exploded ; for while it accounts somewhat ingeniously 
for the varieties which are met with, yet it is contradicted by the stub- 
born fact that, in the present day, the cross of the dog with either of 
these animals, if produced^ is incapable of continuing the species when 
paii'ed with one of the same crossed breed. Nevertheless, it may be 
desirable to give Mr. Bell's reasons for thinking that the dog is de- 
scended from the wolf, which are as follows : — 



d INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 

"In order to come to any rational conclusion on this head, it will be 
necessary to ascertain to what type the animal approaches most nearly, 
after having for many successive generations existed in a wild state, 
removed from the influence of domestication, and of association with 
mankind. Now we find that there are several instances of the existence 
in dogs of such a state of wildness as to have lost even that common 
character of domestication, variety of color and marking. Of these, 
two very remarkable ones are the dhole of India and the dingo of 
Australia. There is, besides, a half-reclaimed race amongst the Indians 
of North America, and another also partially tamed in South America, 
which deserve attention. And it is found that these races in different 
degrees, and in a greater degree as they are more wild, exhibit the lank 
and gaunt form, the lengthened limbs, the long and slender muzzle, 
and the great comparative strength which characterizes the wolf; and 
that the tail of the Australian dog, which may be considered as the most 
remote from a state of domestication, assumes the slightly bushy form 
of that animal. 

"•We have here a remarkable npproximation to a well-known wild 
animal of the same genus, in races which, though doubtless descended 
from domesticated ancestors, have gradually assumed the wild con- 
dition ; and it is worthy of special remark that the anatomy of the 
wolf, and its osteology in particular, does not differ from that of the dog 
in general, more than the different kinds of dogs do from each other. 
The cranium is absolutely similar, and so are all. or nearly all, the other 
essential parts ; and, to strenghten still further the probability of their 
identity, the dog and wolf will readily breed together, and their progeny 
is fertile. The obliquity of the position of the eyes in the wolf is one of 
the characters in which it differs from the dog ; and, although it is very 
desirable not to rest too much upon the effects of habit on structure, it is 
not perhaps straining the point to attribute the forward direction of the 
eyes in the dog to the constant habit, for many successive generations, 
of looking forward to his master, and obeying his voice."* 

Such is the state of the argument in favor of the original descent 
from the wolf, but, as far as it is founded upon the breeding together of 
the wolf and dog, it applies also to the fox, which is ncAv ascertained 
occasionally to be impregnated by the dog ; but in neither case we 
believe does the progeny continue to be fertile if put to one of the same 
cross, and as this is now ascertained to be the only reliable test, the 
existence of the first cross stands for nothing. Indeed, experience 
shows us more and more clearly every year, that no reliance can be 
placed upon the test depending upon fertile intercommunion, which, 
especially in birds, is shown to be liable to various exceptions. Still 
it has been supported by respectable authorities, and for this reason we 
have given insertion to the above extract. 

Bell's British Quadi-upeds, pp. 196—7. 



XL. AVATTS ON DOGS. 



GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS. 



In every variety the dog is more or less endowed with a keen sight, 
strong powers of smell, sagacity almost amounting to reason, and con- 
siderable speed, so that he is admirably adapted for all purposes con- 
nected with the pursuit of game. He is also furnished with strong 
teeth, and courage enough to use them in defence of his master, and 
with muscular power sufficient to enable him to draw moderate weights, 
as we see in Kamtschatka and Newfoundland. 



HABITAT. 



In almost every climate the dog is to be met with, from Kamtschatka 
to Cape Horn, the chief exception being some of the islands in the Pa- 
cific Ocean ; but it is only in the Temperate Zone that he is to be found 
in perfection, the courage of the bulldog and the speed of the greyhound 
soon degenerating in tropical countries. In China and the Society 
Islands dogs are eaten, being considered great delicacies, and by the 
ancients the flesh of a young fat dog was highly prized, Hippocrates 
even describing that of an adult as wholesome and nourishing. In a 
state of nature the dog is compelled to live on flesh, which he obtains 
by hunting, and hence he is classed among the Carnivora ; but when 
domesticated he will live upon vegetable substances alone, such as oat- 
meal porridge, or bread made from any of the cereals, but thrives best 
upon a mixed diet of vegetable and animal substances ; and, indeed, the 
formation of his teeth is such as to lead us to suppose that by nature he 
is intended for it, as we shall hereafter find in discussing his anatomical 
structure. 



VARIETIES OF THE DOG. 

The varieties of the dog are extremely numerous, and, indeed, as they 
are apparently produced by crossing, which is still had recourse to, 
there is scarcely any limit to the numbers which may be described. It 
is a curious fact that large bitches frequently take a fancy to dogs so 
small as to be incapable of breeding with them ; and in any case, if left 
to themselves, the chances are very great against their selecting mates 
of the same breed as themselves. The result is that innumerable non- 
descripts are yearly born, but as a certain number of breeds are 
described by writers on the dog, or defined by " dog-fanciers," these 
" mongrels," as they are called from not belonging to them, are 



8 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

generally despised, and however, useful they may be, the breed is not 
continued. This, however, is not literary true, exceptions being made 
in favor of certain sorts which have been improved by admixture with 
others, such as the cross of the bulldog with the greyhound ; the foxhound 
with the Spanish pointer; the bulldog with the terrier, &c., &c., all of 
which are now recognized and admitted into the list of valuable breeds, 
and not only are not considered mongrels, but on the contrary, are 
prized above the original strains from which they are descended. 



THE NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN DOGS. 

A great variety of the dpg tribe is to be met with throughout the 
continent of America, resembling in type the dingo of Australia, but 
appearing to be crossed with some of the different kinds introduced by 
Europeans. One of the most remarkable of the South American dogs 
is the Alco, which has pendulous ears, Avith a short tail and hog-back, 
and is supposed to be descended from the native dog found by Columbus ; 
but, even allowing this to be the case, it is of course much intermixed 
with foreign breeds. The North- American dogs are very closely allied 
to the dingo in all respects, but are genei'ally smaller in size, and are 
also much crossed with European breeds. In some districts they burrow 
in the ground, but the march of civilization is yearly diminishing their 
numbers throughout the continent of America. 



THE SMOOTH GREYHOUND. 

This elegant animal appears to have existed in Britain from a very 
early period, beicg mentioned in a very old Welsh proverb, and a law 
of King Canute having precluded the commonalty from keeping him. 
Numberless hypotheses have been brought forward relative to the origin 
of the greyhound, Buffon tracing him to the French nation, and some 
other writers fancying that they could, with more probability, consider 
him as the descendant of the bulldog or the mastiff. But as I believe 
that it is impossible to ascertain with any degree of certainty the origin 
of the species Ganis, so I am quite satisfied with the conclusion that no 
long-standing variety can be traced to its source. We must, therefore, 
be content to take each as we find it, and rest content with investigating 
its present condition ; perhaps in some cases extending our researches 
back for fifty or a hundred years, and even then we shall often find that 
we are lost in a sea of doubt. 

Until within the last twenty-five years public coursing was confined 
to a very limited circle of competitors, partly owing to the careful reten- 
tion of the best blood in the kennels of a chosen few, but chiefly to the 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 9 

existing game laws, which made it imperative that every person cours- 
ing should not only have a certificate, but also a qualification ; that is 
to say, the possession of landed property to the value of one hundred 
pounds per annum. Hence the sport was forbidden to the middle 
classes, and it was not until the passing of the present game laws, in 
1831, that it was thrown open to them. From that time to the present 
the possession of the greyhound has been coveted and obtained by great 
numbers of country gentlemen and farmers in rural districts, and by 
professional men, as well as tradesmen, in our cities and towns, so that 
the total number in Great Britain and Ireland may be estimated at 
about fifteen or twenty thousand. Of these about five or six thousand 
are kept for public coursing, while the remainder amuse their owners 
by coursing the hare in private. 

Various explanations have been offered of the etymology of the prefix 
grey, some contending that the color is implied, others that it means 
Greek (Grains), while a third party understand it to mean great. But 
as there is a remarkable peculiarity in this breed connected with it, we 
need not, I think, go farther for the derivation. No other breed, I be- 
lieve, has the blue or grey color prevalent ; and those which possess it 
at all have it mixed with white, or other color ; as, for instance, the 
blue-bottled harrier, and the blotched blue and brown seen in some other 
kinds. The greyhound, on the contrary, has the pure blue or iron grey 
color very commonly ; and although this shade is not admired by any 
lovers of the animal for its beauty, it will make its appearance occa- 
sionally. Hence it may fairly be considered a peculiarity of the breed, 
and this grey color may, therefore, with a fair show of probability, have 
given the name to the greyhound. 

The points of the greyhound will be described at length, because, as 
far as speed goes, he may be taken as the type to which all other breeds 
are referred ; but, before going into these particulars, it will be inter- 
esting to examine the oft-quoted doggrel rhymes, which are founded 
upon a longer effusion originally published by Wynkyn de Worde, in 
1496, and to institute a comparison between the greyhound, of the fif- 
teenth and nineteenth centuries. In the former of these periods it was 
said that this dog should have — 

" The head of a snake, 
The neck of the drake, 
A back like a beam, 
A side like a bream. 
The tail of a rat. 
And the foot of a cat." 



10 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 



THE GAZEHOUND. 

This breed is now lost, and it is very difficult to ascertain in what 
respects it differed from the greyhound. Bewick describes it minutely, 
but he does not appear to have any authority for what he writes on this 
particular. 



THE ALBANIAN DOG^ 

The Albanian dog is said to stand about 27 or 28 inches high, with 
a long pointed muzzle, powerful body, strong and muscular limbs, and 
a long bushy tail, carried like that of the Newfoundland dog. His hair 
is very fine and close, being of a silky texture, and of a fawn color, 
variously clouded with brown. He is used for hunting the wild boar 
and wolf, as well as for the purpose of guarding the sheep-fold from the 
latter ; but the accounts of this dog vary greatly, and are not much to 
be relied on. 



THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND. 

This little dog is one of the most beautifully proportioned animals in 
creation, being a smooth English greyhound in miniature, and resem- 
bling it in all respects but size. It is bred in Spain and Italy in great 
perfection, the warmth of the climate agreeing well with its habits and 
constitution. In England, as in its native country, it is only used as a 
pet or toy dog, for though its speed is considerable for its size, it is in- 
capable of holding even a rabbit. The attempt, therefore, to course 
rabbits with this little dog has always failed, and in those instances 
where the sport (if such it can be called) has been carried out at all, 
recourse has been had to a cross between the Italian greyhound and the 
terrier, which results in a strong, quick, little dog, quite capable ot 
doing all that is required. 

The chief points characteristic of the Italian greyhound are shape, 
color, and size. 

In shape he should as nearly as possible resemble the English grey- 
hound. The nose is not usually so long in proportion, and the head is 
fuller both in width and depth. The eyes, also, are somewhat larger, 
being soft and full. The tail should be small in bone, and free from 
hair. It is scarcely so long as that of the English greyhound, bearing 
in mind the difference of size. It usually bends with a gentle sweep 
upwards, but should never turn round in a corkscrew form. 

The color most prized is a golden fawn ; the dove-colored fawn comes 
pext ; then the cream-color, and the blue fawn, or fawn with blue mm- 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 11 

zle, the black-muzzled fawn, the black-muzzled red, the plain red, the 
yellow, the cream- colored, and the black ; the white, the blue, the white 
and fawn, and the white and red. "Whenever the dog is of a whole 
color, there should be no white whatever on the toes, legs, or tail ; and 
even a star on the breast is considered a defect, though not so great as 
on the feet. 

The size most prized is when the specified weight is about six or 
eight pounds ; but dogs of this weight have seldom perfect symmetry, 
and one with good shape and color of eight pounds is to be preferred to 
a smaller dog of less symmetry. Beyond 12 lbs. the dog is scarcely to 
be considered a pure Italian, though sometimes exceptions occur, and a 
puppy of pure blood, with a sire and dam of small size, may grow to 
such a weight as 16 lbs. 



THE BLOODHOUND. 

The name given to this hound is founded upon his peculiar power of 
scenting the blood of a wounded animal, so that, if once put on his 
trail, he could hunt him through any number of his fellows, and would 
thus single out a wounded deer from a large herd, and stick to him 
through any foils or artifices which he may have recourse to. From 
this property he has also been used to trace human beings, and as his 
nose is remarkably delicate in hunting, even without blood, he has al- 
ways been selected for that purpose, whether the objects of pursuit were 
slaves, as in Cuba and America, or sheep-stealers as in England. 

At present there are, as far as I know, no true bloodhounds in this 
country for this purpose, or indeed for any other, as I believe the breed 
to be extinct ; but several gentlemen possess hounds commonly called 
bloodhounds, though only partially resembling the veritable animal, and 
use them for hunting fallow-deer, especially those which are only 
woimded with the rifle, and not killed outright. This dog is also kept 
for his fine noble appearance, and as his temper is generally less uncer- 
tain than the genuine old bloodhound, and his taste for blood not so 
great, though still sometimes beyond all control, he is not unfitted to be 
the constant companion of man, but must always be regarded with some 
degree of suspicion. 



THE FOX HOUND. 



You desire to know what kind of hound I would recommend. As 
you mention not for any particular chase or country, I understand you 
generally ; and shall answer that I most approve of hounds of the 
middle size. I believe all animals of that description are strongest, and 
best able to endure fatigue, lo the height as well as the color of 



12 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

hounds most sportsmen have their prejudices ; but in their shape at 
least, I think they must all agree. I know sportsmen that boldly affirm 
that a small hound will oftentimes beat a large one ; that he will climb 
hills better, and go through cover quicker ; whilst others are not less 
ready to assert that a large hound will make his way in any country, 
will get better through the dirt than a small one, and that no fence, 
however high, can stop him. You have now their opinions, and 
I advise you to adopt that which suits your country best. There is, 
however, a certain size best adapted for business, which I take to be 
that between the two extremes, and I will venture to say that such 
hounds will not suffer themselves to be disgraced in any country. 
Somerville I find is of the same opinion. 



THE TERRIER. 



The terrier as used for hunting is a strong, useful little dog, with 
great endurance and courage, and with nearly as good a nose as the 
beagle or harrier. From his superior courage when crossed with the 
bulldog, as most vermin-terriers are, he has generally been kept for 
killing vermin whose bite would deter the spaniel or the beagle, but 
would only render the terrier more determined in his pursuit of them. 
Hence, he is the constant attendant on the rat-catcher, and is highly 
useful to the gamekeeper, as well as to the farmer who is annoyed with 
rats and mice. He is only kept for the purpose of destroying ground 
vermin, such as the rat or the weasel, or as a companion to man, for 
which purpose his fidelity and tractability make him peculiarly fitted. 
Terriers are now usually divided into four kinds : — 1st, The old En- 
glish terrier ; 2d, The Scotch (including the Dandie Dinmont) ; 3d, 
The Skye ; and 4th, The modern toy dog. 

The English terrier is a smooth-haired dog, weighing from about 6 
to 10 lbs. His nose is very long and taperiag neatly off, the jaw being 
slightly overhung, with a high forehead, narrow, flat skull, strong, 
muscular jaw, and small, bright eye, well set in the head ; ears, Avhen 
entire, are short and slightly raised, but not absolutely pricked, turning 
over soon after they leave the head. "When cropped they stand up in a 
point, and rise much higher than they naturally would. The neck is 
strong, but of a good length ; body very symmetrical, with powerful 
short loins, and chest deep rather than wide, Shoulders generally good, 
and very powerful, so as to enable the terrier to dig away at an earth 
for hours together without fatigue, but they must not be so wide as to 
prevent him from " going to ground." - Fore legs straight and strong in 
muscle, but light in bone, and feet round and hare-like. Hind legs 
straight, but powerful. Tail fine, with a decided down carriage. The 
color of these dogs should be black and tan, which is the only true color, 
many are white, slightly marked with black, or sometimes, but very rarely 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 13 

blue. The true fox terrier was generally chosen with as much white as 
possible, so that he might be readily seen, either coming up after the 
pack, or when in the fox's earth, in almost complete darkness ; but 
these Avere all crossed with the bull-dog. Those which are now kept for 
general purposes; are, however, most prized when of the black and tan 
color, and the more complete the contrast, that is, the richer the black 
and tan respectively, the more highly the dog is valued, especially if 
without any white. In most cases there is a small patch of tan over 
each eye ; the nose and palate should always be black. Such is the 
pure English terrier, a totally different animal from the short, thick 
muzzled, spaniel-eyed, long-backed, cat-footed, curly-tailed abomination 
so prevalent in the present day. But he is a rank coward, unless 
crossed with the bulldog. 

The Scotch terrier closely resembles the English dog in all but his 
coat, which is wiry and rough, and hence he is sometimes called the 
wire-haired terrier, a name perhaps better suited to a dog which has 
long been naturalized in England, and whose origin is obscure enough. 
Beyond this difference in externals, there is little to be said distinctive 
of the one from the other, the colors being the same, but white being 
more highly prized in the southern variety, and the black and tan when 
more or less mixed with grey, so as to give the dog a pepper and salt 
appearance, being characteristic of the true Scotch terrier ; but there 
are numberless varieties in size, and also in shape and color. This is 
a very good vermin dog, and will hunt anything from a fox to a mouse ; 
but while he may be induced to hunt feather, he never takes to it like 
fur, and prefers vermin to game at all times. 

The Dandle Dinmont is represented by two colors of hair, which is 
sometimes rather hard, but not long ; one entirely a reddish brown, and 
called the " mustard," the other grey or bluish grey on the back, and 
tan or light brown on the legs, and called the " pepper ;" both have the 
silky hair on the forehead. The legs are short, the body long, shoulder 
low, back slightly curved, head large, jaws long and tapered to the 
muzzle, which is not sharp ; ears large and hanging clo'se to the head, 
eyes full, bright and intelligent, tail straight and carried erect, with a 
slight curve over the back (houndlike) ; the weight 18 to 24 lbs., var^j- 
ing according to the strain, but the original Dandie was a heavy dog. 
Occasionally in a litter there may be some with the short folding ear of 
a bull-terrier, and also with some greater length of the legs ; these are 
not approved of by fanciers, but nevertheless are pure, showing a 
tendency to cast back. 

The Skye terrier is remarkable for his long weasel-shaped body, and 
for his short fin-like legs, added to which he has a long rather than a 
wide head, and also a neck of unusual dimensions, so that when 
measured from tip to tail the entire length is not more than three times 
his height. The nose is pointed, but so concealed in the long hair 
which falls over his eyes, that it is scarcely visible without a careful 
inspection ; eyes keen and expressive, but small as compared with th^ 



14 AL. WATTS ON DOGS, 

spaniel. The ears are long and slightly raised, but turning over ; tail 
long, but small in bone and standing straight backwards, that is, not 
curved over the back, but having only a very gentle sweep to prevent 
touching the ground. Fore legs slightly bandy, yet this is not to be 
sought for, but to be avoided as much as possible, thpugh always more 
or less present. The dew-claws are entirely absent, and if present may 
be considered a mark of impurity. The colors most in request are 
black, fawn, or blue, especially a dark slaty blue, and the slightest trace 
of white is carefully avoided The hair is long and straight, hard and 
not silky, parted down the back, and nearly reaching the ground on each 
side, without the slightest curl or resemblence to wood. On the legs 
and on the top of the head it is lighter in color than on the body, and is 
softer and more silky. This dog is little used as a sporting or vermin 
dog, being chiefly reserved for the companionship of man, but he is 
sometimes employed as a vermin-killer, and is as game as the rest of the 
terriers when employed for that purpose. His weight is from 10 to 18 
lbs., averaging about 14. But the variations in this particular, as 
indeed in almost all the points of the Skye terrier, are numerous beyond 
description. 

The Maltese dog is sometimes classed among the terriers, but, as it 
has little affinity with them, it is included among the toy dogs. 

The Spanish pointer is characterized by great height and weight, 
large bones, and altogether heavy limbs, large and rather spreading feet, 
and a small stern. 



THE MODERN ENGLISH POINTER, 

This is now one of the most beautiful of all sporting dogs, dividing 
with the setter the admiration of all those who enjoy the pleasures 
attending on the use of the gun. 

The points desirable in the pointer are, a moderately large head, wide 
rather than long, with a high forehead, and an intelligCint eye of medium 
size. Muzzle broad, with its outline square in front, not receding as in 
'the hound. Flews manifestly present, but not pendent. The head 
should be well set on the neck, with a peculiar form at the junction 
only seen in the pointer. The neck itself should be long, convex in its 
upper outline, without any tendency to dewlap or to a "ruff," as the 
loose skin covered with long hair round the neck is called. The body 
is of good length, with a strong loin, wide hips, and rather arched ribs, 
the chest being well let down, but not in a hatchet shape as in the grey- 
hound, and the depth of the back ribs being proportionally greater than 
in that deg. The tail, or " stern," as it is technically called, is strong 
at the root, but suddenly diminishing it becomes very fine, and then 
continues nearly of the same size to within two inches of the tip, when 
it goes off to a point looking as sharp as the sting of a wasp, and giving 



AL, WATTS ON DOGS. 15 

the whole very much the appearance of that part of the insect, but 
magnified as a matter of course. This peculiar shape of the stern 
characterizes the breed, and its absence shows a ci'oss with the hound, 
or some other do2f. 



THE PORTUGUESE POINTER 

Resembles the Spanish in general form, but is furnished with a bushy 
stern, and looks like a cross with the old-fashioned spaniel. 



THE DALMATIAN DOG. 

The Dalmatian dog is a handsome, well-formed dog, standing about 
twenty-four or twenty-five inches high, and resembling the pointer in his 
shape, but usually having his ears cropped. 

He is beautifully spotted with black on a white ground, and being 
remarkably fond of horses, and of road- work with them, he has long 
been employed in this country to accompany our carriages as an orna- 
mental appendage ; but this fashion has of late years subsided. Hence 
he is here commonly known as "the Coach Dog;" but in his native 
country he is used as a pointer in the field, and is said to perform his 
duties well enough. 



THE SETTER (ENGLISH AND IRISH). 

These dogs are commonly supposed to be the old spaniel, either crossed 
with the pointer or his setting powers educated by long attention to the 
.breed. 



THE RUSSIAN SETTER. 

This dog was at one time, that is about twenty years ago, considered 
to be superior to our English breed, and many of them were then intro- 
duced into the kennels of our best sportsmen, but they are now almost 
lost sight of again. 



THE SPANIEL. 



The Clumber spaniel, which for a long time was confined to the New- 
castle family, but has lately become very fashionable, is a remarkably 
low, long, and somewhat heavy dog. In weight he is from 30 to 40 lbs. 
Heigat 18 to 20 inches. The head is heavy, wide and full, the muzzle 
broad and square, generally of a flesh color. 



16 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

The cocker can scarcely be minutely described, inasmuch as there are 
so many varieties in diiFerent parts of Great Britain. 

The Devonshire cocker closely resembles the "Welsh dog, both being 
of deep liver-color. 

The Welch cocker, is one of the best of this division, being of good 
size, with strong loins, capital legs and feet, and an excellent nose. 
The coat is very slightly curled on the body, but the ears and legs are 
feathered, the tail being nearly bare of hair. These dogs are stiU 
extensively used in Wales for the purpose of hunting the cocks, which 
are to be met with in the principality in large numbers dui'ing the 
season, and form one of the chief attractions to the shooter. 

Water spaniels are commonly said to have web-feet, and this point is 
often made a ground of distinction from other dogs, but the fact is that 
all dogs have their toes united by membrane in the same way, the only 
distinction between the water and land dogs being that the former have 
larger feet, and that the membrane between the toes being more lax, 
they spread more in swimming, and are thus more useful in the water. 
Most people would understand, from the stress laid on web-feet in the 
water dogs, that the toes of the land dogs were nearly as much divided 
as those of man, but there are none so formed, and, as I before remark- 
ed, the toes of all are vinited throughout by a strong membrane. The 
coat in all the water dogs is woolly and thickly matted, often curly, and 
in all more or less oily, so as to resist the action of the water. This 
oil is rank in smell, and hence they are all unfit to be inmates of our 
houses, which is a strong objeetion to the poodle as a toy dog. 

The Irish tvater spaniel consists of two distinct varieties, peculiar to 
the North and South of Ireland. The Northern dog has short ears, 
with little feather either on them or on the legs, but with a considerable 
curl in his coat. In color he is generally liver, but with more or less 
white, which sometimes predominates, so as to make him decidedly white 
and liver. The South country Irish water spaniel is, on the contrary, 
invariably of a pure liver water color. Ears long and well feathered, 
being often two feet from point to point, and the whole coat consisting 
of short crisp curls. Body long, low, and strong, tail round aad 
carried slightly down ; but straight, without any approach to feather. 
' The poodle was probably originally a water spaniel, but he is now 
used solely as a toy dog, in this country at all events. 



THE ENGLISH SHEEP DOG. 

This dog has a sharp muzzle, medium-sized head, with small and 
piercing eyes ; a well-shaped body, formed after the model of a strong 
low greyhound, but clothed in thick and somewhat woolly hair, which 



AL. WATTS ON DOG^. 17 

is particularly strong about the neck and bosom. The tail is naturally 
long and bushy, but, as it has almost invariably been cut off until of late 
years, its variations can hardly be known. Under the old excise laws, 
the shepherd's dog was only exempt from tax when without a tail, and 
for this reason it was always removed ; from which at last it happened 
that many puppies of the breed were born without any tails, and to this 
day some particular breeds are tailless. In almost all sheep dogs there 
is a double dew-claw on each hind leg, and very often without any bony 
attachment. The legs and feet are strong and well formed, and stand 
road-work well, and the untiring nature of the dog is very remarkable. 
The color varies greatly, but most are grey, or black, or brown, with 
more or less white. 



THE COLLEY. 



One of the most beautiful and useful of all our dogs is the Scotch 
sheep-dog or colley. "With a fine muzzle he combines an intelligent- 
looking and rather broad head, and a clear but mild eye, a pricked and 
small ear slightly falling at the tip. His body is elegantly formed, and 
clothed with a thick coat of woolly hair, which stands out evenly from 
his sides and protects him from all the vicissitudes of the weather, neither 
w^ind, rain, or snow being capable of penetrating it. The legs are Avell 
formed and the feet strong and useful. The tail is long, gently carved, 
and bushy, and the whole ouiline resembles the dingo ; but the form is 
stouter and the limbs stronger. The color is nearly always black and 
tan, with little or no white ; sometimes, however, the whole skin is one 
or other of these colors, but then the dog is not considered nearly so val- 
uable. The colley, like the true English sheep-dog, has always one or 
two dew-claws on each hind foot. The sagacity and perseverance of this 
dog are wonderful, and the instances in which he has succeeded in saving 
sheep and lambs under perilous circumstances are beyond all description. 



THE POMERANIAN WOLF-DOG. 

This variety is used to protect the sheep from the wolf. His head is 
long, with a pointed muzzle, and short pricked ears. He is a large 
wolf-like dog in shape, with long silky hair on the body and tail, but 
short on the head, legs, and ears. The color is black, white, grey, or 
sometimes yellow. Tail long and spirally curled. 



18 AL. WATTS ON DOC.ii. 



THE NEWFOUNDLAND. 

This most valuable animal is of two very different kinds, viz., the 
large, loose-made, and long-haired variety, known as the Large 
Labrador ; and the small, compact, and coinparatively short-haired 
dog, known as the St. John's, or Lesser Labrador breed. Both were 
originally natives of Newfoundland, and though many are bred in 
England, fresh specimens are constantly being imported from the 
island. All are now more or less crossed with the mastiff or setter. 
In this country they are chiefly used for ornamental purposes and as 
companions to their masters, the small breed being also crossed with the 
setter to make the retriever ; but in their native country they are used 
to draw timber over the snow in the winter months, being harnessed to 
carts and sledges made for the purpose. In intelligence the two breeds 
are about equal, both being celebrated for their faculty of learning 
to fetch and carry. This is sometimes developed to such an extent 
that a well-trained dog will go back for anything which his master has 
pointed out to him, if it has been handled, when it is only necessary to 
order him back to " seek," and he will find it by the scent. Many 
amusing instances of this are told, one of which we have heard on good 
authority, but which is almost beyond belief. A lady was most anxious 
to obtain a particular object from her lover, which he had strong reasons 
for refusing to her ; but being at length teased into complying he gave 
it to her, and after parting, at some distance from her home, he fetched 
his dog and ordered him to "go seek." The intelligent creature at once 
started off on the heel of his master, and, overtaking the lady still 
carrying the gage d'amour^ he laid hold of it and brought it back in 
triumph. The dispossessed fair one, not having the least idea whose 
dog it was, and being ashamed to own hov>' she had lost it, said nothing 
about the matter, and so the gentleman for once outwitted the lady 
in this stage of their courtship ; .whether the tables were turned after- 
wards, and the dog was enlisted in her service, we know not. Both 
breeds are good water-dogs, and bear immersion for a long time, but 
the large variety having a more woolly coat is superior in endurance of 
wet and cold. Hundreds of anecdotes are (.old of extraordinary escapes 
from drowning by means of these dogs, their tendency to fetch and carry 
being dOubly useful liere. Children and light small women may be 
intrusted to them with safety in the water, if they are not bewildered 
with fear, when they will sometimes cling round the dog's neck, and 
frustrate all his efforts to restore them to the land by swimming ; gen- 
erally, however, in cases of recovery, the person has fainted, and being 
then powerless is towed ashore readily enough. The speed with which 
the Newfoundland swims is very great, his large legs and feet enabling 
him to paddle himself with great force. From their great size and 
strength they are able to beat off most dogs when they are attacked, 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 19 

and their thick coats prevent the teeth of their assailants from doing 
much damage ; but in offensive measures they are of little use, being 
rather unwieldy, and soon winded in a desperate struggle. Hence they 
are not useful in hunting the large kinds of game, nor the bear, wolf, 
or tiger. The nose is delicate enough to hunt any kind of scent, but as 
they soon tire they are not used in this way, and it is solely as retrievers 
on land or water that they are useful to the sportsman, being generally 
crossed with the setter for the former, and the water spaniel for the latter 
element. 

The characteristic points of the Large Newfoundland are, great size, 
often being from thirty to thirty-two inches high ; a form proportionally 
stout and strong, but loosely put together, so that there is a general 
want of compactness, especially about the loins, which are long and very 
flexible. The head is not large in comparison to the size, but wide 
across the eyes ; muzzle of average length and width, and without any 
flews, as in the hounds and pointers ; eye and ear both small, the latter 
falling, and without much hair on it ; neck short and clothed with a ruff 
of hair ; tail long, curled on itself slightly, and woolly ; legs very strong, 
but not feathered ; feet large and rather flat, bearing the road badly ; 
coat on the body long, woolly, and matted ; color black, or black and 
white, or white with little black, or liver color, or a reddish dun, or 
sometimes, but rarely, a dark brindle not very well marked. 

Tlie St. John's, or Smaller Labrador, or Newfoundland, the three 
names being used indiscriminately, is seldom more than twenty-five 
inches high, and often much less. The head is larger in proportion to 
his size, and the ear also slightly fuller ; neck longer ; body far more 
compact, and clothed with shorter hair, shining, and without any woolly 
texture ; tail similar in shape, but the hair less woolly ; legs and feet 
also better adapted for work ; color almost always a jet black, rarely 
liver-colored. 



THE ESQUIMAUX DOG. 

This dog is the only beast of burden in the northern parts of the cont- 
inent of America and adjacent islands ; being sometimes employed to 
carry materials for hunting, or the produce of the chase, on his back ; 
and at others he is harnessed to sledges in teams varying from ^even to 
eleven, each being capable of drawing a hundred-weight for his share. 
They are harnessed to a single yoke-line by a breast-strap, and, being 
without any guide-reins, they are entirely at liberty to do what they like, 
being only restrained by the voice of their master, and urged forward by 
his whip. A single dog of tried intelligence and fidelity is placed as 
leader, and upon him the driver depends for his orders being obeyed. 
In the summer they are most of them turned off to get their own subsist- 
ence by hunting, some few being retained to carry weights on their backs ; 
sledges are then rendered useless by the absence of snow ; and, as there 
2 



20 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

is a good subsistence for tkem from the offal of the seal and the walrus 
which are taken by the men, the dogs become fat at this season of the 
year. The Siberian and Greenland dogs are nearly similar to those of 
Kamtschatka, but somewhat larger, and also more managable, all being 
used in the same way. The Esquimaux dog is about twenty-two or 
twenty-three inches high, with a pointed fox-like muzzle, wide head, 
pricked ears, and wolf-like aspect ; the body is low and strong, and 
clothed with long hair, having an undercoat of thick wool ; tail long, 
gently curved, and hairy ; feet and legs strong and well formed ; the 
color is almost always a dark dun with slight disposition to brindle, and 
black muzzle. 



BULLDOG. 



The points of a well-bred bulldog are as follows. The head should 
be round, the skull high, the eye of moderate size, and the forehead well 
sunk between the eyes, the ears semi-erect and small, well placed on the 
top of the head, rather close together than otherwise, the muzzle short, 
truncate, and well furnished with chop ; his back should be short, well 
arched towards the stern, which should be fine and of moderate length ; 
many bulldogs have what is called a crooked stern, as though the 
vertebra3 of the tail were dislocated or broken. I am disposed to 
attribute this to in-breeding. The coat should be fine, though many 
superior strains are very woolly-coated ; the chest should be deep and 
broad, the legs strong and muscular, and the foot narrow and well split 
up like a hare's. 



THE MASTIFF. 



Tlie English mastiff is a fine noble-looking animal, and in temper is 
the most to be depended on of all the large and powerful dogs, being 
extremely docile and companionable, though possessed of tlie highest 
courage. When crossed with the ]Mewft)uudland or bloodhound, they 
answer well as yard-dogs, but the produce is generally of a savage 
nature, while the pure breed is of so noble and mild a nature that they 
will not 'on any provocation hurt a child or even a small dog, one of 
their most remarkable attributes being their fondness for affording 
protection. 

The points of the mastift' are : — A head of large size between that of 
the bloodhound and bulldog in shape, having the volume of muscle 
of the latter, with the flews and muzzle of the former ; the ear being of 
middle size but drooping, like that of the hound. The teeth generally 
meet, but if anything there is a slight protuberance of the lower jaw, 
never being uncovered by the upper lip like those of the bulldog. Eye 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 21 

f 

small. In shape there is a considerable similarity to the hound, but 
much heavier in all its lines. Loin compact and powerful, and limbs 
strong. Tail very slightly rough, and carried high over the back when 
excited. Voice very deep and sonorous. Coat smooth. Color red or 
fawn with black muzzle, or brindled, or black ; or black, red, or fawn 
and white. Height about twenty-five to twenty-eight inches ; some- 
times, but rarely, rather more. 



THE MOUNT ST. BERNARD DOG. 

Closely allied to tlie mastiff, but resembling the Newfoundland in 
temper and in his disposition to fetch and carry, is the Mount St. 
Bernard breed, confined to the Alps and the adjacent countries, where 
he is used to recover persons who are lost in the snow-storms of that 
inclement region. Wonderful stories are told of the intelligence of these 
dogs and of the recovery of travellers by their means, which are said to 
extend almost to the act of pouring spirits down the throats of their 
patients ; but, however, there is no doubt that they have been and still 
are exceedingly useful, and the breed is still kept up at the monastery 
of Mount St. Bernard. The height is about twenty-five to twenty-eight 
inches ; length six feet, including the tail. The coat is short but varies 
a good deal in length, and the color is a red or fawn with black muzzle, 
occasionally slightly marked in a brindled fashion. The shape of the 
head and body closely resembles that of the English mastiff, but rather 
heavier in all respects. Some dogs have been imported with decidedly 
rough coats. 



THE POODLE. 



This dog is generally to be seen shaved in part, so as to resemble the 
lion in having a mane, and the tip of his tail also having a tuft left on. 
He is by many supposed to be the produce of a cross between the water 
and land spaniels, but there is no good rea.oon to suppose that the breed is 
not quite as distinct as either of them. For many years it has been 
known in France and Germany, particularly the former country, and it is 
there occasionally used for sporting purposes, though, as in England^ it is 
chiefly as a companion that this dog is kept. With more intelligence than 
falls to the lot of any other dog, he unites great fidelity to his muster, and 
a strong love of approbation, so that he may readily be induced to attempt 
any trick which is shown him, and the extent to which he may be taught 
to carry out the secret orders of his instructor is quite marvollous He 
fetches and carries very readilyj swims well, and has a good nose, but has 
no particular fondness for hunting game, often preferring a stick or a stone 
to a hare or pheasant. 



22 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 



MALTESE DOG. 

This beautiful little dog is a Skye terrier in miniature, with, however, 
a far more silky coat, a considerably shorter back, and a tail stiffly curved 
over the hip. 

Points. — The weight should never exceed five or six pounds. Head 
closely resjsmbling that of the Skye, but with more shining and silky hair. 
Coat as long as that dog's, but more transparent and silky. Actions 
lively and playful, and altogether rendering it a pleasing pet. The tail is 
curved over the back, very small and short, W7th a brush of silky hair. 
Color white, with an occasional patch of fawn on the ear or paw. The 
breed was so scarce some time ago as to induce Sir E. Landseer to paint 
one as the last of his race ; since which several have been imported from 
Malta, and, though still scarce, they are now to be obtained. 



THE LION DOG. 



This toy dog appears to be a cross between the poodle and the Maltese 
dog, being curly like the former, but without his long ears and square vis- 
age. He is now very seldom seen in this country, and is not prized 
among fanciers of the canine species. Like the poodle he was generally 
shaved to make him resemble the lion. 



THE lONG CHARLES SPANIEL. 

The points of the King Charles spaniel are : extremely short muzzle, 
which may be slightly turned up; black nose and palate; full, prominent 
eye, which is continually weeping, leaving a gutter of moisture down the 
cheek ; a round, huUet-shaped head ; very long, full-hairod and silky 
ears, which should fall close to the cheek*, and not stand out from them. 
The hody is covered with wavy hair of a silky texture, without curl ; and 
the legs should be feathered to the toes, the length and silkmess of this 
being a great point. Tail well feathered, but not bushy ; it is usually 
cropped. The color should be a rich black and tan, without a white 
hair. The weight should never exceed 6, or at the utmost 7 lbs.; and 
they are valued the more if they are as low as 4.1 or 5 lbs. 



AL. "WATTS ON DOGS. 23 



THE PUG. 

This curly and pretty little toy dog was out of fashion in England for 
some years, but has recently come again into such vogue that a good pug 
will fetch from 20 to 35 guineas. The British breed, however, which is 
one of those known to have existed from the earliest times, was never en- 
tirely lost, having been carefully preserved in a few families. The Dutch 
have always had a fondness for the pug dog, and in Holland the breed is 
common enough, but the same attention has not been paid to it as in Eng- 
land, and yellow masks, low foreheads and pointed noses are constantly 
making their appearance in them, from the impure blood creeping out and 
showing evidences of the crosses which have taken place. These dogs are 
not remarkable for sagacity displayed in any shape, but they are very 
affectionate and playful, and, like the Dutch and Flemish cows, they bear 
the confinement of the house better than many other breeds, racing over 
the carpets in their play as freely as others do over the turf. For this 
reason, as well as the sweetness of their skins, and their short and soft 
coats, they are much liked by the ladies as pets. 

Their points are as follows : — General appearance low and thick-set, the 
legs being short, and the body as close to the ground as possible, but with 
an elegant outline. Weight from 6 to 10 lbs. Color fawn, with black 
mask and vent. The clearer the fawn, and the more distinctly marked 
the black on the mask, which should extend to the eyes, the better; but 
there is generally a slightly darker line down the back. Some strains 
have the hair all over the body tipped with "tmut," but on them the mask 
is sure to shade off too gently, without the clear line which is valued by the 
fancier. Coat short, thick and silky. Head round, forehead high ; nose 
short, but not turned up ; and level-mouthed Ears always cropped close, 
naturally rather short but falling. Neck of moderate length, stout but not 
throaty. Chest wide, deep and round. Tail short, and curled cloely to the 
side, not standing up above the back. It is remarkable that the tail in the 
dog generally falls over the off side, while in the bitch it lies on the near. 
The legs are straight, with small bone, but Avell clothed with muscle. 
Feet like the hare, not cat-footed. No dew-claws on the hind legs. The 
height is from 11 to 15 inches. 



TOY TERRIERS. 



These are of the various breeds described under the head of the terrier, 
but of smaller size than the average, and with great attention paid to their 
color and shape. The smooth English terrier, not exceeding 7 lbs. in 
weight, is much prized; and when he can be obtained of 3o or 4 lbs. 
weight, with perfect symmetry, and a good rich black and tan color, with- 
out a white hair, he is certainly a very perfect little dog. Most of the toy 



24 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

terriers now sold are either crossed with the Italian greyhound or with the 
King Charles spaniel. If the former, the shape is preserved, and there is 
the greatest possible difficulty in distinguishing this cross from the pure 
English terrier ; indeed, I am much inclined to believe that all our best 
modern toy terriers are thus bred. They have the beautiful long sharp 
nose, the narrow forehead, and the small sharp eye, which characterize 
the pure breed ; but they are seldom good at vermin, though some which I 
have known to be half Italian have been bold enough to attack a good 
strong rat as well as most do^s. Many of these half-bred Italians are used 
for rabbit-coursing, in which there is a limit to weight, but it is chiefly for 
toy purposes that long prices are obtained for them. "When the cross with 
the spaniel has been resorted to, the forehead is high, the nose short, and 
the eye large, full, and often weeping, while the general form is not so 
symmetrical and compact ; the chest being full enough, but the brisket 
not so deep as in the true terrier or in the Italian cross. 

The Skye terrier, as used for toy pvirposes, is often crossed with the 
spaniel to get silkiness of coat. 

Scotch terriers are seldom used as toys, and are not considered such by 
the fanciers of the animal. 



AXIOMS FOR THE BREEDER'S USE. 

But it may be asked, — What then are the principles upon which breed- 
ing is to be conducted? To this, in many of the details, no answer can 
be given which can be relied on with certainty. Nevertheless, there are 
certain broad landmarks established which afford some assistance, and 
these shall be given, taking cave to avoid all rules which are not clearly 
established by general consent. 

1. The male and female each furnish their quota towards the original 
germ of the off'spring ; but the female over and above this nourishes it till 
it is born, and, consequently, may be supposed to have more influence 
upon its formation than the male. 

2. Natural conformation is transmitted by both parents as a general 
law, and likewise any acquired or accidental variation. It may therefore 
be said that, on both sides, " like produces like.*' 

3. In proportion to the purity of the breed will it be transmitted un- 
changed to the off'spring. Thus a greyhound bitch of pure blood put to a 
mongrel will produce puppies more nearly resembling her shape than that 
of the father. 

4. Breeding in-and-in is not injurious to the dog, as may be proved 
both from theory and practice ; indeed it appears, on the contrary, to be 
very advantageous in many well-marked instances of the greyhound, which 
have of late years appeared in public. 

5. As every dog is a compound animal, made up of a sire and dam, 
and also their sires and dams, &c., so, unless there is much breeding in- 



AI.. TTATTS ON DOGS. 25 

and-ln, it may be said tbat it is impossible to foretell with absolute cer- 
tainty what particular result will be elicited- 

6. The first impregnation appears to produce some effect upon the next 
and subsequent ones. It is therefore necessary to take care that the 
effect of the cross in question is not neutralized by a prior and bad im- 
pregnation. This fact has been so fully established by Sir John Sebright 
and others that it is needless to go into its proofs 

By these general laws on the subject of breeding we must be guided in 
the selection of the dog and bitch from which a litter is to be obtained, 
always taking care that both are as far as po.-sible remarkable, not only 
for the bodily ^bape, but for the qualities of the brain and nervous system 
which are desired. Thus, in breeding the pointer, select a good looking 
sire and dam by all means, but also take care that they were good in the 
fiield ; that is, that; they possessed fiood noses, worked well, were stout, 
and if they were also perfectly broken so much the better. So, again, in 
breeding hounds, care must be taken that the animals chosen are shaped 
as a hound should be ; but they should also have as many of the good 
hunting qualities, and as few of the vices of that kind of dog ; and if these 
points are not attended to the result is not often good. 

To secure these several results the pedigrees of the dog and bitch are 
carefully scanned by those who are particular in these matters, because 
then assurance is given that the ancestors, as far as they can be traced, 
possessed all those qualifications without which their owners would not in 
all human probability retain them. Hence a pointer, if proved to be de- 
scended from a dog and bitch belonging t& Lord Softon, Lord Lichfield, or 
any well-known breeder of this dog in the present day, or from Sir H. 
Goodrich, Mr. Moore, or Mr. Edge, so celebrated for their breeds some 
years ago, would be valued more highly than another without any pedigree 
at all, although the latter might be superior in shape, and might perform 
equally well in the field, Tbe importance of pedigree is becoming more 
fully recognized every year, and experienced breeders generally refuse to 
have anything to do with either dog or bitch for this particular purpose, 
unless they can trace the pedigree to ancestors belonging to parties iv/io 
were known to be themselves careful in their selections. In most cases 
this is all that is attempted, especially in pointers, setters, spaniels, &c., 
but in greyhounds and foxhounds of first-class blood the genealogy may 
generally be traced through ha'f a dozen kennels of known and established 
reputation ; and this same attention to breed ought to prevail in all the 
varieties of the dog whose performances are of importance, and indeed 
without it the reproduction of a particular shape and make cannot with 
anything like certainty be depended on. Hence the breeders of valuable 
toy dogs, such as K.ng Charles spaniels, Italian greyhounds, «fec., are as 
careful as ihey need be, having found out by experience that without this 
attention they are constantly disappointed. 



26 'AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 



IMPORTANCE OF HEALTH IN BOTH SIRE AND DAM. 

Health in both parents should be 'especially insisted upon, and in the 
bitch in particular there should be a sufficiently strong constitution, to 
enable her to sustain the growth of her puppies before birth, and 
to produce milk enough for them afterwards, though in this last 
particular she may of course be assisted by a foster-nurse. 



BEST AGE TO BREED FROM. 

The hest age to breed from, in almost all breeds, is soon after the sire 
and dam have each reached maturity. When, however, the produce is 
desired to be very small, the older both animals are, the more likely 
this result is, — excepting in the last litter which the bitch has, for this 
being often composed of only one or two puppies, they are not smaller 
than the average, and sometimes even larger. All bitches should be 
alloAved to reach full maturity before they are. allowed to breed, and 
this period varies according to size, small dogs being adult at one year, 
whereas large ones are still iu their puppyhood at that time, and take 
fully twice as long to develop their proportions. The mastiiF is barely 
full grown at two years ; large hounds at a year and a half; greyhounds 
at the same time ; pointers and setters from a year and a quarter to a 
year and a half; while terriers and small toy dogs reach maturity at 
a year old, or even earlier. 4 



DURATION OF HEAT. 

The duration of the period of heat in the bitch is about three weeks, 
during the middle week of which she will generally take the dog ; but 
about the eleventh or twelfth day from the first commencement, is, on 
the average, the best time to put her to him. During the first three or 
four days of the middle week the bitch ' ' bleeds " considerably from the 
vulva, and while this is going on she should not be allowed access to 
the male, nor will she generally if left to herself, but as soon as it sub- 
sides, no time should be lost, as it often happens that very shortly after- 
wards she will refuse him altogether, and thus a whole year may be 
lost. Most bitches are " in heat" twice a year, at equal periods, some 
every five, or even every four, months ; others every seven, eight, nine, 
ten, eleven, or twelve months ; but the far greater proportion of bitches 
of all breeds are " in season" twice a year pretty regularly. There is, 
therefore, a necessity for ascertaining the rule iu each bitch, as it varies 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 27 

SO considerably ; for, when it is known, the calculation can better be 
made as to the probability of the heat returning at the desired time. 
The period between the first and second " heats " will generally indicate 
the length of the succeeding ones, but this is not invariable, as the 
" putting by " of the animal will sometimes throw her out of her regvdar 
course. 



MANAGEMENT OF THE BITCH IN WHELP. 

When it is clearly ascertained that the bitch is in whelp, the exercise 
should be increased and carried on freely till the sixth week, after which 
it should be daily given, but with care to avoid strains either in galloping 
or jumping. A valuable bitch is often led during the last week, but 
somehow or other she ought to have walking exercise to the last, by 
which in great measure all necessity for opening medicine will be 
avoided. During the last few weeks her food should be regulated by 
her condition, which must be raised if she is too low, or the reverse if 
she is too fat, the desired medium being such a state as is compatible 
with high health, and neither tending towards exhaustion nor inflam- 
mation. Excessive fat in a bitch not only interferes with the birth of 
the pups, but also is very liable to interfere with the secretion of milk, 
and, if this last does happen, aggravates the attendant or "milk" fever. 
To know by the eye and hand how to fix upon this proper standard, it 
is only necessary to feel the ribs, when they should at once be apparent 
to the hand, rolling loosely under it, but not evident to the eye so as to 
count them. It is better to separate the bitch from other dogs during 
the last week or ten days, as she then becomes restless, and is instinct- 
ively and constantly looking for a place to whelp in, whereas, if she is 
prevented from occupying any desirable corner she is uneasy. At this 
time the food should be of a very sloppy nature, chiefly composed of 
broth, or milk and bread, adding oatmeal according to the state of the 
bowels. 



PREPARATION FOR WHELPING. 

' The best mode of preparing a place for the bitch to whelp in is to 
nail a piece of old carpet over a smooth boarded floor, to a regular 
" bench," if in a sporting kennel ; or on a door or other flat piece of 
board raised a few inches from the ground, if for any other breed. 
When a regular wooden box or kennel, as these are called in ordinary 
language, is used for the bitch, she may as well continue to occupy it, 
as she will be more contented than in a fresh place ; but it is not so 
easy to get at her there if anything goes wrong with either mother or 
whelps, and on that account it is not a desirable place. A board, large 
or small, according to the size of the bitch, with a raised edge to pre- 



28 AJ-. WATTS ON DOGS. 

vent the puppies rolling off, and supported by bricks a few inehes from 
the ground, is all that is required for the most valuable animal ; and if 
a piece of carpet, as before mentioned, is tacked upon this, and some 
straw placed upon all, the height of comfort is afforded to both mother 
and offspring. The use of the carpet is to allo^ the puppies to catch 
their claws in it as they are workin» at the mother's teats ; for without 
it they slip over the board, and they are restless, and unable to fill 
themselves well ; while at the same time they scratch all the straw away, 
and are left bare and cold. 



DESTRUCTION OR CHOICE OF WHELPS AT BIRTH. 

Sometimes it is desirable to destroy all the lohelps as soon as possible 
after birth, but this ought very seldom to be done, as in all cases it is 
better to keep one or two sucking for a short time, to prevent milk fever, 
and from motives of humanity also. If, however, it is decided to destroy 
all at once, take them away as fast as they are born, leaving only one 
with the mother to engage her attention, and when all are born, remove 
the last before she has become used to it, by which plan less cruelty is 
practised than if she is permitted to attach herself to her offspring. Low 
diet and a dose or two of mild aperient medicine, with moderate exercise, 
will be required to guard against fever, but at best it is a bad business, 
and can only be justified under extraordinary circumstances. 



CHOICE OF WHELPS. 

To choose the whelps in the nest which are to be kept, most people se- 
lect on different principles, each having some peculiar crotchet to guide 
himself. Some take the heaviest, some the last born ; others the long- 
est of the litter ; while others again are entirely guided by color. In 
toy dogs, and those whose appearance is an important element, color 
ought to be allowed all the weight it deserves, and among certain toy 
dogs the value is often afiected a hundred per cent, by a slight variation 
in the markinars. 



FEEDING BEFORE WEANING. 

The food of whelps before iveaning should be confined at first to cow's 
milk, or, if this is very rich, reduced with a little Avater. It is better to 
•boil it, and it should be sweetened with fine sugar, as for the human 
palate. As much of this as the whelps will take may be given them 
three times a day, or every four hours if they are a large litter. In the 
fourth week get a sheep's head, boil it in a quart of water till the meat 
comes completely to pieces, then carefully take away every particle of 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 29 

bone, aud break up the meat into fragments no larger than a small horse- 
bean ; mix all up with the broth, thicken this to the consistence of cream 
with fine wheat flour, boil for a quarter of an hour, then cool and give 
alternately with the milk. At this time the milk may also be thickened 
with flour ; and as the puppies grow, and the milk of the bitch decreases 
in quantity, the amount of milk and thickened broth must be increased 
each day, as well as more frequently given. Some art, founded on ex- 
perience, is required ; not to satiate the puppies, but by carefully in- 
creasing the quantity whenever the pups have finished it greedily the 
last time or two, they will not be overdone. In no case should the pan 
containing the food be left in the intervals with the puppies, if they have 
not cleared it out, as they only become disgusted with it, and next time 
refuse to feed. A sheep's head will serve a litter of large-sized puppies 
two days up to weaning, more or less according to numbers and age. 



WEANING. 



When weaning is to he commenced, Avhich is usually about the 5th or 
6th week, it is better to remove the puppies altogether, than to let the 
bitch go on suckling them at long intervals. By this time their claws 
and teeth have become so sharp and so long, that they punish the bitch 
terribly, and therefore she does not let them fill their bellies. Her milk 
generally accumulates in her teats, and becomes stale, in which state it 
is not fit for the Avhelps, and by many is supposed to engender worms. 
The puppies have always learned to lap, and will eat meat, or take 
broth or thickened milk, as described in the last chapter ; besides which, 
when they have no chance of sucking presented to them, they take other 
food better, whereas, if they are allowed to suck away at empty teats, 
they only fill themselves with wind, and then lose their appetites for 
food of any kind. But, having determined to wean them, there are 
several important particulars which must be attended to, or the result 
will be a failure, at all events for some time. That is to say, the pup- 
pies will fall away in flesh, and will cease to grow at the same rate as 
before. In almost all cases, what is called the " milk-fat" disappears 
after weaning, but still it is desirable to keep some flesh on their bones, 
and this can only be done by attending to the following directions, which 
apply to dogs of all kinds, but are seldom rigidly carried out, except 
with the greyhound, whose size and strength are so important as to call 
for every care to procure them in a high degree. In hounds, as well as 
pointers and setters, a check in the growth is of just as much conse- 
quence ; but as they are not tested together as to their speed and stout- 
ness so closely as greyhounds are, the slight defects produced in puppy- 
hood are not detected, and, as a consequence, the same attention is not 
paid. Nevertheless, as most of these points require only care, and cost 
little beyond it, they ought to be carried out almost as strictly in the 



30 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

kennels of the foxhound and pointer as in those devoted to the longtails. 
These chief and cardinal elements of success are, — 1st, a warm, clean 
and dry lodging ; 2dly, suitable food ; 3dly, regularity in feeding ; and 
4tbly, a provision for sufficient exercise. 



THE USE OF THE DOG IN SHOOTING. 

The dogs used in aid of the gun are : the pointer, the setter, in grouse 
and partridge shooting ; the spaniel, beagle, and terrier, in covert shoot- 
ing ; either of the above in snipe shooting ; and the water spaniel or 
retriever in wild fowl shooting. 



TEETH OF THE DOG AT VARIOUS AGES. 

The incisors are somewhat remarkable in shape, having three little 
lobules at their edges resembling a fleur-de-lis. Next to these come 
the canine teeth or tusks, and then the molars, which vary in form con- 
siderably. In the upper jaw, in front, are three sharp and cutting teeth, 
which Cuvier calls false molars ; then a tooth with two cutting lobes ; 
and lastly two flat teeth, or true molars. In the under jaw, the first 
four molars on each side are false, or cutters ; then an intermediate one, 
with the posterior part flat ; and lastly two tubercular teeth, or true mo- 
lars. As the incisors are worn away and the dog becomes old, the lob- 
ules on the edges wear away and are flattened. The teeth are developed 
in two sets : the first, called milk-teeth, showing themselves through the 
gums about a fortnight or three weeks after birth, and lasting till the 
fifth or sixth month, waen they are displaced by the permanent set, the 
growth of which is accompanied by a degree of feverishness which is 
often mistaken for distemper. The dog's teeth should be beautifully 
white, if he is healthy and well reared, and until the third year there 
should be no deposit of tartar upon them, but after that time they are 
always coated with this substance at the roots, more or less, according 
to the feeding and state of health. 



THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM. 

The muscles of the dog have nothing remarkable about them, except- 
ing that they are renewed and wasted faster than in most animals. 
This has passed into a proverb, and should be known as influencing the 
time which dogs take to recruit their strength. 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. St 



THE BRAIN AND NERVOUS SYSTET^L 

The nervous system is highly developed in those breeds which have 
been carefully attended to, that is, where individuals of high nervous 
sensibility have been selected to breed from. This is therefore remark- 
able in the bulldog, selected for generations for courage ; in the pointer, 
where steadiness in pointing has been the prominent cause of choice ; 
and in the greyhound, whose characteristic is speed ; all requiring a 
higli development of the nervous system, and all particularly liable to 
nervous diseases, such as fits, chorea, &c. On the other hand, the cur, 
the common sheep-dog, «&;c., seldom suffer from any disease whatever. 



■ THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 

The stomach of this animal is extremely powerful in dissolving bones, 
but it is also very liable to sickness, and on the slightest disturbance 
rejects its contents. This appears to be almost a natural effect, and not 
a diseased or disordered condition, as there is scarcely a dog which does 
not wilfully produce vomiting occasionally by swallowing grass. Few 
medicines which are at all irritating will remain down, and a vast num- 
ber which are supposed to be given are not retained on the stomach, 
while others are only partially so. The bowels are extremely liable to 
become costive, which is in great measure owing to the want of proper 
exercise, and this also is very apt to produce torpidity of the liver. It 
may, however, be observed that in almost all particulars, except the 
tendency to vomit, the digestive organs of the dog resemble those of 
man. 



THE SKIN. 



The skin of the dog is said to be quite free from perspiration, but this 
is a mistake, as I have often seen the short hairs of a smooth-coated 
dog glistening with fine beads of liquid, poured out on a hot day, when 
strong exercise was taken. The tongue, however, is the grand means 
of carrying off heat by evaporation, and its extensive surface, when 
hanging out of the mouth, is sufficient for the purpose, as the fluid is 
carried off more rapidly from the air passing over it in expiration. I 
am persuaded that a considerable amount of insensible perspiration is 
constantly going on from the surface of the skin, and that nothing ought 
to be done which is likely to check it. This, however, is contrary to 
the generally received opinion, which is that nothing of the kind takes 
place in this animal. 



32 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 



ADMINISTRATION OF REMEDIES. 

Some considerable tact and knowledge of the animal are required in 
order to give medicines to the dog to the best advantage. In the first 
place, his stomach is peculiarly irritable, and so much under the control 
of the will, that most dogs can vomit whenever they like. Hence it is 
not only necessary to give the medicine, but also to insure its being 
kept down. For this purpose, however, it is generally only necessary 
to keep up the dog's head, as he will not readily vomit withot bringing 
his nose to the ground, and so it is the regular practice in large kennels, 
in giving a dose of physic, to put the couples on, and fasten them up to a 
hook, at such a height that the dog cannot lower his head, maintaining 
this position for two or three hours. A single dog may be watched, if 
such is preferred, but a lot of hounds in physic must be treated with less 
ceremony. 



MODE OF GIVING A BOLUS OR PILL. 

If the dog is small, take him on the lap, without harshness, and if 
inclined to use his paws tie a coarse towel round his neck, letting it fall 
down in front, which will muffle them effectually : then with the finger 
and thumb of the left hand press open the mouth by insinuating them 
between the teeth, far enough back to take in the cheeks, "and so to com- 
pel the mouth to open from the pain given by the pi'essure against the 
teeth, while it also prevents the dog from biting the fingers. Then rais- 
ing the nose, drop the pill as far back as possible, and push it well down 
the throat with the forefinger of the right hand. Let go with the left, 
still hold the nose up, keeping the mouth shut, and the pill is sure to go 
down. A large dog requires two persons to give a pill, if he is at all 
inclined to resist. First, back him into a corner, then stride over him, 
and putting a thick cloth into his mouth, bring it together over the nose, 
where it is held by the left hand ; the right can then generally lay hold 
of the lower jaw. But if the dog is very obstinate and inclined to re- 
sist, another cloth must also be placed over that, and then drawing them 
apart an assistant can push the pill down. Very often a piece of meat 
may be used to wrap the pill up in, and the dog will readily bolt it ; 
but sometimes it is desirable to avoid this, as it may be necessary to 
give the medicine by itself. Even large dogs, however, are seldom so 
troublesome as to require the above precautions in giving pills, though 
they almost always obstinately refuse liquid medicine when they have 
tasted it once or twice. 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 33 



MODE OF DRENCHING THE DOG. 

If a small quantity only is to be givea, the dog's head being held, the 
liquid may be poured through the closed teeth, by making a little pouch 
of the cheek ; but this is a tedious process, as the animal often refuses 
to swallow it for a long time, and then struggles till half is wasted. A 
spoon answers for small quantities, but for larger a soda-water bottle is 
the best instrument. Then, having the dog held on either of the plans 
recommended in the last paragraph, pour a little down, and shut the 
mouth, wliich is necessary, because the act of swallowing cannot be 
performed with it open. Repeat this till all is swallowed. Then watch 
the dog, or tie his head up, till it is clear that the medicine will be re- 
tained on the stomach. 

THE APPLICATION OF THE MUZZLE. 

When any operation is to be performed which is likely to make the 
dog use his teeth, he must be muzzled, either with an instrument made 
on pui-pose, or with a piece of tape, which is to be first wound round 
the nose of the dog, as close to the eyes as possible without touehino- 
them, then tied in a knot between them, and both ends brouo-ht back 
over the forehead to the collar, where they are to be made fast. When 
a muzzle is required to be worn by a savage dog, either in-doors or out 
it must be so made as to allow of his readily putting his tono-ue out. 
For this purpose either a cone of leather pierced with holes, or of wire 
is strapped on by a neck-strap and two or three side-straps. 



FEVERS. 



The dog is peculiarly liable to febrile attacks, which have always a 
tendency to put on a low form, very similar in its nature to that known 
as typhus in human medicine. This is so generally the case, that every 
dog is said to have the distemper at some time of his life, that name 
being given to this low form of fever. Hence, an attack may commence 
with a common cold, or any inflammatory affection of the lun^-s, bowels 
&c. ; but, this going on to assume the low form, it becomes a case of 
genuine typhus fever, or distemper. Nevertheless, it does not follow 
that the one must necessarily end in the other ; and so the dog may have 
simple fever, known as " a cold," or various other complaints, without 
being subjected to ihe true distemper. The fevers occuring in the doo- 
are : 1st, Simple ephemeral fever, commonly called " a cold ; " 2nd*' 
Simple epidemic fever, or influenza ; 3rd, Typhus fever, known as Dis- 
temper ; 4th, Rheumatic fever, attacking the -muscular and fibrous 
systems ; and, 5thly, Small-pox. 



84 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 



SIMPLE EPHEMERAL FEVER. 



Symptoms. — This slight disease, known as " a common cold," is ush- 
ered in by chilliness, with increased heat of surface, a quick pulse, and 
slightly hurried breathing. The appetite is not as good as usual, eyes 
look dull, bowels costive, urine scanty and high-colored. There are 
often cough and slight running at the nose and eyes, and sometimes the 
other internal organs are attacked ; or the disease goes on till a dilSferent 
form of fever is established, known as typhus, and this is particularly 
the case when many dogs are collected together, or when one or two are 
kept in a close kennel, and are neither properly ventilated nor cleaned. 



INFLUENZA. 



The Symptoms of influenza at first closely resemble those of the last- 
described attack, but as they depend upon some peculiar condition of 
the air which prevails at the time, and as they are more persistent, the 
name influenza is given. After the first few days the running at the 
eyes and nose increases, and a cough is almost always present, which 
symptoms often persist for two or three weeks, leaving great prostration 
of strength at the end of that time, and often a chronic cough, which 
requires careful treatment. 



TYPHUS FEVER, OR DISTEMPER. 

The symptoms are very various, but they may be divided into two 
sets, one of which comprises a set always attending upon distemper ; 
while the other may or may not be present in any individual attack. 
The invariable symptoms are : a low, insidious fever, with prostration 
of strength to a remarkable degree, in proportion to the duration and 
strength of the attack, and rapid emaciation, so that a thick, muscular 
dog is often made quite thin and lanky in three days. As a part of the 
fever, there is shivering, attended by quick pulse, hurried respiration, 
loss of appetite, and impaired secretions ; but, beyond these three, are 
no signs which can be called positively invariable ; though the running 
at the eyes and nose, and the short husky cough, especially after exer- 
cise, are very nearly always present. The accidental symptoms depend 
upon the particular complication which may exist ; for one of the most 
remarkable features in distemper is, that, coupled with the above in- 
variable symptoms, there may be congestion, or inflammation of the 
head, chest, bowels, or skin. So that in one case the disease may ap- 
pear to be entirely confined to the head, in another to the chest, and in 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 95 

a third to the bowels ; yet all are strictly from the same cause, and re- 
quire the same general plan of treatment, modified according to the seat 
of the complication. 

The ordinary course of an attach of distemper is as follows : that is, 
when contracted by contagion, or clearly epidemic. (On the other 
hand, when it is developed in consequence of neglect, it comes on at the 
end of some other attack of disease, which may have existed for an in- 
definite time.) Almost always the first thing noticed is a general dul- 
ness or lassitude, together with loss of appetite. In a day or two there 
is generally a peculiar husky cough, which sounds as if the dog were 
trying to get a piece of straw out of his throat, and always comes ou at 
exercise after a gallop. With this there is also a tendency to sneeze, 
but not so marked as the "husk" or " tissuck " which may occur in 
common " cold " or influenza, but is then usually more severe, and also 
more variable in its severity ; soon going on to inflammation, or else 
entirely ceasing in a few days. In distemper, the strength and flesh 
rapidly fail and waste, while in common "cold" the cough may con- 
tinue for days without much alteration in either ; and this is one of the 
chief characteristics of the true disease. There is, also, generally a 
black, pitchy condition of the fcecee^ and the urine is scanty and high- 
colored. The white of the eyes is always more or less reddened, the 
color being of a bluish red cast, and the vessels being evidently gorged 
with blood. When the brain is attacked, the eyes are more injected 
than when the bowels or lungs are the seats of complication. The cor- 
ners of the eyes have a small drop of mucus, and the nose runs more or 
less, which symptoms, as the disease goes on, are much aggravated, 
both being glued up by brownish matter, while the teeth also are cov- 
ered with a blackish brown fur. Such are the regular symptoms of a 
severe attack of distemper, gradually increasing in severity to the third, 
fourth, or fifth week, when the dog dies from exhaustion, or from dis- 
ease of the brain, lungs, or bowels, marked by peculiar signs in each 
case. In this course the disease may be described as passing through 
four stages or periods: 1st, that in which the poison is spreading 
through the system, called the period of incubation ; 2nd, that in which 
nature rouses her powers to expel it, called the period of reaction ; 3rd, 
the period of prostration, dui'ing which the powers of nature are ex- 
hausted, or nearly so, by the efforts which have been made ; and 4th, 
the period of convalescence. On the average, each of these will occupy 
a week or ten days, varying with the mildness or severity of the attack. 

When the head is attacked, there may or may not be a running from 
the nose and eyes ; but more usually there is some evidence of conges- 
tion in these organs, the eyes being weak and glued up with the mucus, 
and the nose running more or less. A fit is, however, the clearest evi- 
dence of brain affection, and, to a common observer, the only reliable 
one. Sometimes there is stupor without a fit, gradually increasing till 
the dog becomes insensible and dies. At others, a raving delirium 
comes on, easily mistaken for hydrophobia, but distinguished from it by 
the presence of the premoaitory symptoms peculiar to distemper. This 
3 



36 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

is the most fatal complication of all, and, if the dog recovers, he is often 
a victim to palsy or chorea for the rest of his life. 

If the lungs are attached, there is very rapid breathing, with cough, 
and almost always a considerable running from the eyes and nose, and 
expectoration of thick, frothy mucus. If inflammation of the lungs is 
established, the danger is as great as when the head is the seat of the 
seizure. 

The bowels may be known to be seized when there is a violent purg- 
ing of black offensive matter, often tinged with blood, and sometimes 
mixed with patches or shreds of a white leathery substance, which is 
coagulable lymph. The discharge of blood is in some cases excessive, 
and rapidly carries off the dog. 

If the skin is attacked, which is a favorable sign, there is a breaking 
out of pustules on the inside of the thighs and belly, which fill with mat- 
ter often tinged with dark blood, and sometimes with blood itself of a 
dark purple color. 

To distinguish distemper from similar affections is not always easy 
to an inexperienced observer, but the practised eye at once detects the 
difference. The chief diseases which are likely to be confounded with 
it are, the true canine madness, common " cold," or influenza, inflam- 
mation of the lungS; and diarrhoea. The first of these runs a more 
rapid course, and is ushered in by peculiar changes in the temper, which 
will be described under the head of Hydrophobia. "Cold" and in- 
fluenza cause no great prostration of strength ; and the former comes on 
after exposure to the weather, while the latter is sure to be prevalent at 
the time. Inflammation of the lungs must be studied to be known, 
and simple diarrhoea has no fever attending upon it. 



RHEUMATIC FEVER. 

One of the most common diseases in the dog is rheumatism in some 
form, generally showing itself with very little fever, but sometimes 
being accompanied with a high degree of that attendant evil. The 
frequency of this disease is owing to the constant exposure of the dog to 
cold and wet, and very often to his kennel being damp, which is the 
fertile source of kennel lameness, or chest-founder, which is nothing 
more than rheumatism of the muscles of the shoulders. Again, those 
which spend half their time before a roasting fii-e, and the other half in 
the wet and cold, are extremely apt to contract this kind of fever, but 
not in so intractable a form as the denizen of the damp kennel. By 
some writers this affection is classed among the inflammations ; and it 
is a debatable point to which of these diWsions it should be assigned ; 
but this is of little consequence, so that it is properly known and easily 
recognized by the symptoms. I shall therefore include here rheumatic 
fever, which is a general affection, and also the partial attacks known 
as kennel lameness or chest-founder, and rheumatism of the loins, com- 
monly called palsy of the back. 



AX. WATTS ON DOGS. 37 

Rheumatic fever is knoion by the following sigos : — There is consid- 
erable evidence of the fever, but not of a very high character, the pulse 
being full but not very quick, with shivering and dulness, except when 
touched or threatened, the slighest approach causing a shriek, evidently 
from the fear of pain. The dog almost always retires into a corner, and 
is very reluctant to come out of it. On being forcibly brought out, he 
snarls at the hand even of his best friend, and stands with hfs back'up, 
evidently prepared to defend himself from the pat of the hand, which to 
him is anguish. The bowels are confined, and the urine high-coloured 
and scanty. 

A dragging of the hind limhs is common enough in the do"-, and 
though often called palsy, it really is almost always of a rheumatic 
nature. It exactly resembles chest-founder in all its symptoms, except- 
ing that the muscles affected are situated in the loins and hips, corres- 
ponding with the human lumbago in all its particulars, excepting that it 
is far more permanent. The causes and treatment are the same as those 
of kennel lameness. 



SYMPATHETIC FEVER. 

This term is applied to the ^fever which comes on either before or 
after some severe local affection, and being, as it were, eclipsed by it. 
Thus in all severe inflammations there is an accompanying fever which 
generall;5# shows itself before the exact nature of the attack is made 
manifest, and though it runs high, yet it has no tendency in itself to 
produce fatal results, subsiding, as a matter of course, with the inflam- 
mation which atiends it. The same happens in severe injuries ; but 
here also, if there is no inflammation, there is no fever ; so that the 
same rule applies as where there is an external cause. 



HYDROPHOBIA, RABIES, OR MADNESS. 

This disease has been classed among the inflammations, althouo-h it 
has not been proved to arise from that cause ; but, as it is generally 
supposed to be connected with an inflammation or congestion of the 
spinal colunin or brain, there is every reason for placing it at the head 
of this division ; and, as it is of the utmost importance to understand 
its symptoms, the sooner it is studied the better. At present there 
appears to be little or no control over this horrible complaint, so that it 
is solely with a view to recognize the attack and prevent its transmission 
by inoculation, that it is interesting to the ovmer of the dog. 

The symptoms are chiefly as follows : — The first is a marked change 
of temper ; the naturally cheerful dog becoming waspish and morose, 
and the bold fondling pet retreating from his master's hand as if it was 



88 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

that of a stranger. On the other hand, the shy dog becomes bold ; but 
in almost every case there is a total change of manner for several days 
before the absolute outbreak of the attack, which is indicated by a kind 
of delirious watching of imaginary objects, the dog snapping at the 
wall, or, if anything comes in his way, tearing it to pieces with savage 
fury. With this there is constant watchfulness, and sometimes a 
peculiarly hollow howl, while at others no sound whatever is given, the 
case being then described as "dumb madness." "Fever is always 
present, but it is difficult to ascertain its extent on account of the 
danger of approaching the patient, and with this (in contradiction to 
the name hydrophobia) , there is invariably an urgent thirst, which the 
dog is in such a hurry to gratify that he generally upsets the vessel 
containing his water. Mr. Grantley Berkeley maintains very strongly 
that no dog really attacked with rabies will touch water, and that the 
presence of thirst is a clear sign of the absence of this disease ; but this 
opinion is so entirely in opposition to the careful accounts given by all 
those who have witnessed the disease when it had unquestionably been 
communicated either to man or to some of the lower animals, that no 
reliance ought to be placed upon it, especially where so important a 
stake is involved. Mr. Youatt witnessed more cases of rabies than per- 
haps any equally good observer ever did, and he strongly insists upon 
the presence of thirst, as may be gathered from the concluding portion 
of the following extract : — 

" Some very important conclusions may be drawn from the appearance 
and charactar of the urine. The dog, and at particular times when he 
is more than usually salacious, may, and does diligently search the 
urining places ; he may even, at those periods, be seen to lick the spot 
which another has just wetted ; but, if a peculiar eagerness accompanies 
this strange employment, if, in the parlor, which is rarely disgraced by 
this evacuation, every corner is perseveringly examined, and licked with 
unwearied and unceasing industry, that dog cannot be too cai'efully 
watched, there is great danger about him ; he may, without any other 
symptom, be pronounced to be decidedly rabid. I never knew a single 
mistake about this. 

" Much has been said of the profuse discharge of saliva from the 
mouth of the rabid dog. It is an undoubted fact that, in this disease, 
all the glands concerned in the secretion of saliva, become increased 
in bulk and vascularity. The sublingual glands wear an evident 
character of inflammation ; but it never equals the increased discharge 
that accompanies epilepsy or nausea. The frothy spume at the corners 
of the mouth is not for a moment to be compared with that which is 
evident enough in both of these affections. It is a symptom of short 
duration, and seldom lasts longer than two hours. The stories that are 
told of the mad dog covered with froth are altogether fabulous. The 
doo- recovering from, or attacked by, a fit may be seen in this state ; 
but not the rabid dog. Fits are often mistaken for rabies, and hence 
the delusion. 



AL, WATTS ON DOGS. 39 

"The increased secretion of saliva soon passes away. It lessens in 
quantity ; it becomes thicker, viscid, adhesive, and glutinous. It clings 
to the corners of the mouth, and probably more annoy ingly so to the 
membrane of the fauces. The human being is sadly distressed by it, 
he forces it out with the greatest violence, or utters the falsely supposed 
bark of a dog, in his attempts to force it from his mouth. This symp- 
tom occurs in the human being when the disease is fully established, or 
at a late period of it. The dog furiously attempts to detach it with 
his paws. 

" It is an early symptom in the dog, and it can scarcely be mistaken 
in him. "When he is fighting with his paws at the corners of his mouth, 
let no one suppose that a bone is sticking between the poor fellow's teeth ; 
nor should any useless and dangerous efi^ort be made to relieve him. If 
all this uneasiness arose from a bone in the mouth, the mouth would 
continue permanently open, instead of closing when the animal for a 
moment discontinues his efforts. If after a while he loses his balance 
and tumbles over, there can be no longer any mistake. It is the saliva 
becoming more and more glutinous, irritating the fauces and threatening 
suffocation. 

"To this iiaturally and rapidly succeeds an insatiable thirst. The 
dog that still has full power over the muscles of his jaws continues to 
lap. He knows not when to cease, while the poor fellow laboring under 
the dumb madness, presently to be described, and whose jaw and tongue 
are paralysed, plunges his muzzle into the water-dish to his very eyes, 
in order that he may get one drop of water into the back part of his 
mouth to moisten and to cool his dry and parched fauces. Hence, 
instead of this disease being always characterized by the dread of water 
in the dog, it is marked by a thirst often perfectly unquenchable. 
Twenty years ago this assertion would have been peremptorily denied. 
Even at the present day, we occasionally meet with those who ought to 
know better, and who will not believe that the dog which fairly, or 
perhaps eagerly, drinks, can be rabid." — Touatt^ pp. 135-6. 

From my own experience I can fully confirm the above account, 
having seen seven cases of genuine rabies, in all of which thirst was 
present in a greater or less degree ; and in five of which the disease was 
communicated to other dogs. 

If the rabid dog is not molested he will seldom attack any living 
object ; but the slightest obstruction in his path is sufficient to rouse his 
fury, and he then bites savagely, and in the most unreasoning manner, 
so as to be wholly uncontrollable by fear of the consequences. The gait 
when at liberty, is a long trot, without any deviation from the straight 
line, except what is compulsory from the nature of the surrounding 
objects. 

The average time of the occurrence of rabies after the bite is, in the 
dog, from three weeks to six months, or possibly even longer ; so that a 
suspected case requires careful watching for at least that time ; but, 
after three months, the animal suspected to have been bitten may be 
considered tolerably safe. 



40 . AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

The duration of the disease is about four or five days, but I have 
mys'elf known a case fatal in forty-eight hours. 

As there has never yet been discovered a cure for rabies, so the best 
plan in all cases is to destroy the dog as soon as he is clearly shown to 
exhibit the disease. In the interval he should be secluded in a safe 
place, where he cannot possibly get at any living animal. 



INFLAMMATIONS OF THE EYE. 

Ophthalmia^ or simple inflammation of the eyes, is very common in 
the dog, especially in the latter stages of distemper, when the condition 
of this organ is often apparently hopeless ; though a little patience will 
show that no mischief eventually occurs. On more than one occasion I 
have saved puppies from a watery grave, whose eyes were said to be 
hopelessly gone. 



CANKER, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE EAR. 

From high feeding generally, and exposure to the weather, many 
dogs (especially of a sporting kind), contract an inflammation of the 
membrane or skin lining the ear. This produces irritation, and the dog 
shakes his head continually, which, together with the tendency to spread 
externally, causes an ulceration of the tips of the ears of those dogs, 
such as the hound, pointer, setter, spaniel, &c., which have these 
organs long and pendulous. Hence, the superficial observer is apt to 
confine his observation to this external observation, and I have even 
known the tips of the ears cut off in the hope of getting rid of the mis- 
chief, whereas it was only aggravated, because the incessant shaking 
caused the wound to extend, while the internal mischief was not in the 
slightest degi-ee relieved., The pointer is particularly liable to " canker," 
as shown on the tips of the ears, because he has little hair on this part 
to take off the acuteness of the " smack" which is given in the shaking 
of the head. Long-haired dogs on the other hand are quite as liable to 
the real disease, as evidenced on an examination of the internal surface ; 
but, from the protection afforded by the hair, the pendulous ear is not so 
much ulcerated or inflamed. Whenever, therefore, a dog is seen to be 
continually shaking his head, and aborti^'ely trying to rub or scratch his 
ear, not being able to succeed because he cannot reach the interior, an 
examination should be made of the passage leading into the head ; and 
if the lining is red and inflamed, there is clear evidence of the disease, 
even if the external ear is altogether free from it. On the other hand, 
the mere existence of an ulceration on the tips of the ears is oo absolute 
proof of " canker," because it may liave been caused by the- briars and 
thorns which a spaniel or hound has to pass through in huuting for his 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 41 

game. Still, it should lead to a careful inspection, and if it continues 

for any length of time, it may be generally concluded that there is an 
internal cause for it. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE MOUTH AND TEETH. 

Dogs which are fed on strongly stimulating food are very apt to lose 
their teeth by decay, and also to suffer from a spongy state of the gums, 
attended with a collection of tartar about the roots of the teeth. Decayed 
teeth are better extracted, but the tartar, when it produces inflammation, 
may be removed by instruments if it is considered worth the trouble. 
By carefully scraping the teeth, there is little or no difliculty in remov- 
ing it, if the dog's head is held steadily; but, few people are handy 
enough with the necessary tools to effect this, excepting those who make 
a business of the art ; and, if the dog is so highly valued as to make it 
desirable to incur the expense, he should be taken to a veterinary 
surgreon. 



SPASMODIC ASTHMA. 

What is often called asthma in the dog, is nothing more than a per- 
manently chronic form of bronchitis, which is very common among 
petted toy dogs, or house dogs, which are not alloyed much exercise. 
But there is a form of true asthma with spasm, which is also met with 
among the same kind of dogs, the symptoms of which are much more 
urgent, comprising a sudden accession of difficulty in breathing, so 
severe that the dog evidently gasps for breath, and yet there is no evi- 
dence of inflammation. It may be known by the suddenness of the 
attack, inflammation being comparatively slow in its approach. 



PHTHISIS, OR CONSUMPTION. 

The symptoms of consumption are, a slow insidious cough, witaout 
fever in the early stage, followed by emaciation, and ending after some 
months in diarrhoea, or exhaustion from the amount of expectoration, or 
in the bursting of a blood-vessel, which last is generally the termination 
in those dogs that are kept for use, the work to which they are subjected 
leading to excessive action of the heart, which is likely to burst the 
vessel. In the latter stages there is a good deal of constitutional fever, 
but it is seldom that the dog lives long enough to show this condition, 
being either destroyed as incurable, or dying rapidly from loss of blood 
or diarrhoea. 



42 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER (Hepatitis, or Yellows). 

This is one of the most common of the diseases to which sporting dog? 
are subject, in consequence of the exposure to cold and wet which they are 
submitted to, producing congestion of the liver, and this going on to in- 
flammation. Dogs deprived of exercise also contract it, because their 
livers first becoming torpid, the bile accumulates, and then, in order to get 
rid of it, nature establishes an action which ends in inflammation. The 
symptoms are a yellow .state of the white of the eye and skin generally, 
from which the disease is commonly called "the yellows." 

Acute hepatitis comes on rapidly, and with a good deal of fever, gener- 
ally showing itself on the day after a long exposure to wet and cold, as in 
shooting or hunting The dog shivers, his nose is hot, his breathing slightly 
quicker than usual, and his pulse quick, small, and wiry. The bowels are 
confined, and, when moved, the motions are clay-colored or slaty. If these 
symptoms are'^not soon relieved, the case ends fatally, sickness coming on, 
and the strength being rapidly exhausted. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 

Four varieties of this condition are met with, viz. : 1, acute inflamma- 
tion of the peritonaeal coat ; 2, spasms of the muscular coat, attended with 
congestion or inflammation, and known as colic; 3, inflammation of the 
mucous coat, attended by diarrhoea; and 4, chronic inflammation, almost 
always followed by constipation. 

Acute inflammation of the peritonteal coat is known as peritonitis and 
enteritis, according as its attacks are confined to the membrane lining the 
general cavity {pe7'itonceum), or to that covering the intestines {enteron) ; 
but, as there is seldom one without more or less of the other, there is little 
practical use in the distinction. The symptoms are very severe, and are 
shown by shivering, feverishness, cold dry nose, ears, and legs, breath hot, 
and the expression anxious, showing evidence of pain, which is increased 
on pressing the bowels with the hand. The tail is kept closely pressed 
against the body, and the attitude is peculiar to the disease, the back being 
arched, and the legs all drawn together. The bowels are costive, the urine 
scanty and high-colored ; thero is thirst, and the appetite is absent altogether. 
Sometimes there is a slight vomiting after food, but at others it is retained; 
though, in the later stages, the former condition generally prevails. The 
disease soon runs on, and, if not relieved, is fatal in a few days. 

Colic is also a frequent complaint among the dog tribe, the signs being 
intense pain aggravated at intervals to such a degree as to cause the patient 
to howl most loudly, the back being at the same time arched as far as pos- 
sible, and the legs drawn togetlier. If this shows itself suddenly after a 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 43 

full meal, the colic may at once be surmised to exist, but the howl at fir^^t 
is not very loud, the dog starting up with a sharp moan, and then lyinoj 
down again, to repeat the start and moan in a few minutes with increased 
intensity, until it becomes a. howl continued for many seconds together. 
The nose is of a natural appearance, and there is little or no fever, the evi- 
dence of pain being all that directs the attention to the bowels, where there 
is no tenderness, and, on the contrary, pressure gradually made with the 
hand seems to afford relief. 

Chronic inflammation with constipation is very apt to occur in dogs 
which are not exercised, and are fed with biscuit or meal without vegeta- 
bles. The consequence is, that the bowels after a time become inflamed, 
and diarrhoea is set up ; but, this soon ceasing, the mucous membrane is 
impaired in tone, and there is a want of the proper secretion, ko that the 
fodces become hard, and the muscular coat refuses to act as it should do. 
In such a case, the belly becomes distended, and there is excessive pain, 
with more or less spasm. In some instances i\\efceces have become so im- 
pacted that no means could be used which would overcome the mechanical 
difficulty, and the dogs have died "undelivered." It is easy to distinguish 
these collections, because they may be readily felt through the flank, and 
nothing but a case of pregnancy can be mistaken for them. 



SKIN DISEASES. 



Almost all skin diseases depend on neglect in some form ; and in the 
dog they arise either from improper management, as in the case of 
"blotch," or "surfeit," or from the presence of parasites, as in mange. 
These three names are all that are applied to skin diseases in the dog. 
though there can be no doubt that they vary greatly, and mange itself 
is subdivided by different writers so as to comprehend several varieties. 
Fleas, ticks, &c., also irritate the skin greatly, and all will therefore 
be included here, the inflammation produced by them being entitled to 
be considered a skin disease as much as mange itself. 

Blotchy or surfeit, shows itself in the shape of scabby lumps of mat- 
ted hair, on the back, sides, head, and quarters, as well as occasionally 
on the inside of the thighs. They vary from the size of a sixpence to 
that of half a crown, are irregularly round in shape, and after about 
three or four days the scab and hair fall off, leaving the skiu bare, red, 
and slightly inclined to discharge a thin serum. The disease is not con- 
tagious, and evidently arises from gross feeding, joined very frequently 
with want of exercise, and often brought out by a gallop after long con- 
finement to the kennel. % 

An eruption between the toes, similar in its nature and cause to 
" blotch," is also very common, showing itself chiefly at the roots of the 
nails, where there are considerable redness and swelling, and so much 
tenderness as to make the dog quite lame. In bad cases, when the 



44 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

constitution is impaired by defective kennel arrangements, the sores be- 
come very foul, and are then very difficult to heal. 

Foul mange (resembling the psoriasis of man in its nature) is a most 
unmanageable disease, inasmuch as it has become quite constitutional 
before it can be so designated, and because, being a disease of the blood, 
it requires a complete change in the composition of this fluid before it 
can be eradicated. It is doubtful whether mange is contagious, but that 
it is hereditary I have no doubt whatever, the proofs within my own 
knowledge being amply sufficient to convince me of the fact. Thus I 
have seen a bitch apparently cured of it, and with a perfectly healthy 
skin, produce a litter of w'helps all of which broke out with mange at 
four or five months old, though scattered in various parts of the country 
at their walks ; the bitch afterwards showing the impurity of her blood 
by again and again becoming the subject of mange. I should therefore 
never breed from either a dog or bitch who was attacked by this form 
of eruption. There is considerable thickening of the skin, with an 
offensive discharge from the surface, chiefly flowing from the cracks 
and ulcerations under the scabs on it. This dries and falls off in scales, 
taking with them a good deal of the hair, which is further removed by 
the constant scratching of the poor dog, who is tormented with inces- 
sant itching. Almost always there is a~fat, unwieldy state of the sys- 
tem, from want of exercise, but the appetite is often deficient. 

Virulent mange (which may be compared to psora and porrigo in 
the human subject) is of two kinds, one attributable to a parasitic in- 
sect, and the other of vegetable origin. In the former case, which is 
its most common form, it appears in large kennels where cleanliness is 
not sufficiently attended to, and when the floors become loaded with the 
excretions. There is no doubt that this is highly contagious, but there 
is-also little difference of opinion as to its being capable of being bred 
or developed among a lot of previously healthy dogs if mismanaged in 
the above way. The skin shows itself bare of hair in large patches of 
irregular form, and the hair being as it were gradually worn away at 
the edges, as if by scratching. The skin is dry and rough, with cracks 
and creases in various directions, from some of which a thin ichorous 
discharge may be seen to flow, on removing the scabs which fill them. 
The dog feeds well, but from want of sleep is languid and listless ; there 
is considerable thirst and some slight feverishness, but very often the 
flesh is maintained for months at a high rate. The treatment of this 
form of mange is founded upon the belief that it is caused by an insect 
of the acarus tribe, which has been detected by the microscope in many 
cases, but which by some people is maintained to be an accidental effect, 
and not a cause of mange. 



CHOREA. 



Chorea, or St. Vitus's dance, may be known by the spasmodic 
twitches which accompany it, and by their ceasing during sleep. In 



AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 45 

slight cases the spasm is a mere drop of the head and shoulder, or some- 
times of the hind quarter only, giving a very silly and weak expression 
to the animal. Chorea is almost always a consequence of distemper, so 
that it is unnecessary to describe its early stages, and the disease itself 
cannot be further defined than by the above description. It seldom goes 
on to destroy life, though occasionally it is accompanied by fits, the 
disease in the brain and spine then being of such a severe nature as to 
end fatally in the course of time, the dog apparently dying from exhaus- 
tion. Of the exact nature of the disease we know nothing — the most 
careful examination of the brain and spinal cord leading to no useful 
result. But it often happens that there is present at the same time a 
degree of mischief in the stomach, caused apparently by the presence of 
worms, and then the chorea is said to be sympathetic with this. 



SHAKING PALSY. 



This resembles chorea in its nature, but it is incessant, except during 
sleep, and attacks the whole body. The same remedies may be applied, 
but it is an incurable disease, though not always destroying life. 



WORMS. 



Worms are a fertile source of disease in the dog, destroying every 
year more puppies than the distemper itself; and, in spite of every pre- 
caution, appearing in the kennelled hound or shooting-dog, as well as 
the pampered house-pet and the half-starved cur. 

The symptoms of the presence of worms in the dog should be carefully 
noted and anxiously looked for, if the health of the animal is of any 
importance. They are, an unhealthy appearance of the coat, the hair 
looking dead and not lying smoothly and evenly ; appetite ravenous in 
proportion to the condition, which is generally low, though worms may 
exist for months without interfering much with the presence of fat. 
After a time, however, the fat of the body is absorbed, and the muscles, 
without being firm and prominent, are marked with intervening lines 
from its absence. The fceces are passed frequently and in small quanti- 
ties, the separate passage of a small quantity of mucus each time being 
particularly indicative of worms, especially if there is first a solid lump, 
and then a small portion of frothy mucus. The spii'its are also dull, 
the nose hot and dry, and the breath offensive. These signs are only 
present to the full extent when the dog is troubled with tape-worm, or 
with the round-worm in large quantities ; the maw-worm being only 
slightly injurious in comparison with the others, and seldom producing 
the whole of the above train of symptoms. The kidney- worm, of course, 



46 AL. WATTS ON DOGS. 

has no effect upon the intestinal secretions, but it produces bloody urine, 
more or less mixed with pus. Still, as these are often present without 
this worm, it is impossible to predict its existence during life, with any 
degree of certainty. 



INDIGESTION (Dyspepsia). 

Among the most common consequences of improper feeding and neg- 
lect of exercise is indigestion, attended by its usual coneomitant, con- 
stipation. It shows itself in flatulence, loss of appetite, alternations of 
constipation and diarrhoea, low spirits, and want of muscular vigor ; 
although often the animal is fat enough, or, indeed, sometimes loaded 
with fat (adipose matter) . Such a state of things never occurs to a dog 
properly reared and afterwards well managed, being confined to those 
which are either fed on impi'oper food, or allowed too much of it, or 
which are not allowed exercise enough ; or, as is too frequently the 
case, which are submitted to all three of these causes. 



UNNATURAL PARTUEITION. 

I have heretofore alluded to the management of healthy parturition, 
but in this chapter I must say something of the proper conduct to be 
observed where the process is disturbed by any accidental complication. 
As, however, these unnatural labors only occur in any number to the 
veterinary practitioner, I shall take the liberty of inserting here Mr. 
Youatt's remarks on the subject, which I believe to be truthful through- 
out: — 

''The pupping usually takes place from the sixty-second to the sixty- 
fourth day.; and, the process having commenced, from a quarter to 
three quarters of an hour generally takes place between the production 
of each puppy. 

" Great numbers of bitches are lost every year in the act of parturi- 
tion : there seems to be a propensity in the females to associate with 
dogs larger than themselves, and they pay for it with their lives. The 
most neglected circumstance during the period of pregnancy is the little 
exercise which the mother is permitted to take, while, in point of fact, 
nothing tends more to safe and easy parturition than her being permit- 
ted or compelled to take a fair quantity of exercise. 

" When the time of parturition has arrived, and there is evident diffi- 
culty in producing the foetus, recourse should be had to the ergot of rye, 
which should be given every hour or half hour, according to circum- 
stances. If after a certain time some, although little, progress has been 
made, the ergot must be continued in smaller doses, or perhaps sus- 



XL. WATTS ON DOGS. 47 

peadecl for a while ; but, if all progress is evidently suspended, recourse 
must be liad to the hook or the forceps. By gentle but continued ma- 
nipulation much may be done, especially when the muzzle of the puppy 
can be brought into the passage. As little force as possible must be 
used, and especially the ftctus little broken. Many a valuable animal 
is destroyed by the undue application of force. 

"If the animal seems to be losing strength, a small quantity of 
laudanum and ether may be administered. ' The patience of bitches in 
labor is extreme,' says Mr. Blaine ; ' and their distress, if not removed, 
is most striking and affecting. Their luck is at such time particularly 
expressive and apparently imploring.' When the pupping is protracted, 
and the young ones are evidently dead, the mother may be saved, 
if none of the puppies have been broken. In process of time the 
different puppies may, one after another, be extracted ; but when 
violence has been used at the commencement, or almost at any part of 
the process, death will assuredly follow. 

'■'•Jan, 15, 1876. — A terrier bitch was brought to my repository to- 
day, who has been in great and constant pain since yesterday, making 
repeated but fruitless efforts to expel her puppies. She is in a very 
plethoric habit of body ; her bowels are much confined, and she exhibits 
some general symptoms of febrile derangement, arising, doubtless, from 
her protracted labor. This is her first litter. Upon examination no 
young could be distinctly felt. 

"Place her in a warm bath, and give her a dose of castor oil, 
morning and evening. 

"Jan. 16. — The bitch appears in the same state as yesterday, except 
that the medicine has operated freely upon the bowels, and the febrile 
symptoms have somewhat decreased. Her strainings are as frequent 
and distressing as ever. Take two scruples of the ergot of rye, and 
divide into six doses, of Avhich let one be given every half hour. 

" In about ten minutes after the exhibition of the last dose of this 
medicine, she brought forth, with great difficulty, one dead puppy ; 
upon taking which away from her, she became so uneasy that I was 
induced to return it to her. In about a quarter of an hour after this 
I paid her another visit ; the puppy could not now be found ; but 
a suspicious appearance in the mother's eye betrayed at once that she 
had devoured it. I immediately administered an emetic ; and in a very 
shox't time the whole foetus was returned in five distinct parts, viz., the 
four quarters and the head. After this, the bitch began to amend very 
fast ; she produced no other puppy ; and, as her supply of milk was 
small, she was soon convalescent." 



AL. WA.TTS, 




REPOSITORY, 

164 LINCOLN 8TEEET, 



BOSTON, MASS. 



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